Your View: Israeli expulsion of Arabs and land seizures are the real reasons Gazans fight

Wednesday

Nov 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Events between Israel and the Palestinians are not reported accurately by the American media. The press has reported that Syria has fired on Israel. This exchange of firing took place on the Golan Heights of Syria, not Israel. The Golan Heights, which I visited while touring Israel in 1972, is land that belongs to Syria. Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967. In 1967, Swedish Television recorded the Israeli demolition of Kuneitra, the county seat, of approximately 20,000 Syrian inhabitants, in the Golan Heights.

THOMAS J. SHIRE JR.

Events between Israel and the Palestinians are not reported accurately by the American media. The press has reported that Syria has fired on Israel. This exchange of firing took place on the Golan Heights of Syria, not Israel. The Golan Heights, which I visited while touring Israel in 1972, is land that belongs to Syria. Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967. In 1967, Swedish Television recorded the Israeli demolition of Kuneitra, the county seat, of approximately 20,000 Syrian inhabitants, in the Golan Heights.

In addition to the Golan Heights of Syria, Israel still occupies the Shabaa Farms of Lebanon.

The people of Gaza are routinely blockaded by Israel. Every aspect of daily life in Gaza is filtered, screened and scrutinized by the land, sea and air forces of the Israeli military. Many people, from many countries, have tried to bring aid to the people of Gaza without success. Israel interdicts and seizes all boats, even in international waters, well beyond the international three-mile limit.

The Israeli shelling of Gaza has destroyed the building that was the offices of the foreign press corps. The American people are far too intelligent to believe the Israeli propaganda that "rockets are being fired at Israeli civilians while Palestinians use civilians as human shields."

Israeli seizure of Arab lands, and the expulsion of Israeli-Arabs/Palestinians, (Palestinian citizens of Israel) are the real reasons behind these latest escalations. The American media are not reporting the expulsion of Israeli-Arabs/Palestinians nor are the media reporting the seizure of Israeli-Arab/Palestinians lands.

Here are the facts.

Some 50,000 Israeli-Arabs/Palestinians are being expelled from their homes in Southern Israel to make way for Israeli settlements.

This Israeli-Arab population is half the size of New Bedford.

These expulsions began in October and continue today. Israel is tearing down Palestinian homes near Beersheba in the Negev region, and is unilaterally expropriating Arab lands, to build housing for Israelis.

These Israeli-Arabs of Beersheba are labeled as "Bedouins." This provides Israel with a superficial excuse to uproot thousands of families and minimize their worth.

The 50,000 Israeli-Arabs of the Negev lead a different way of life. This life-style is one of the reasons Israel uses to forcibly remove them from their homes and lands. Israel cannot call itself democratic while depriving Israeli-Arabs of the same rights as Israeli-Jews.

Olive trees, which are over 100 years old, are being uprooted. Olives and olive oil production are a major part of the Palestinian economy. Apparently, only those trees planted by Israelis are acceptable. By uprooting Arab olive trees and planting their own, Israel can claim to have helped restore the earth. Supposedly, "Israelis have the know-how to care for the land and plant trees. Israeli-Arabs and other Arabs, should learn from the Israelis." This is part of the preposterous propaganda machine supporting Israel.

Israeli crimes against Israeli-Arabs must not be overlooked by the international community.

There are many Jews who do not support these inhumane Israeli actions. "J Street" and "Jewish Voices for Peace" are two organizations that are speaking out about Israeli injustice against Israeli-Arabs. I support both of these groups.